Editing Big Dig (section)

== Coordinated projects ==
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was required under the Federal Clean Air Act to mitigate air pollution generated by the highway improvements. Secretary of Transportation Fred Salvucci signed an agreement with the [[Conservation Law Foundation]] in 1990 enumerating 14 specific projects the state agreed to build. This list was affirmed in a 1992 lawsuit settlement.<ref name="step">{{cite web|url=http://www.somervillestep.org/2005/04/commonwealth_ma.html|title=STEP: Commonwealth Magazine article against Green Line|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222044336/http://www.somervillestep.org/2005/04/commonwealth_ma.html|archive-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>

Projects which have been completed include:<ref name="step" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eot.state.ma.us/downloads/sip/07sipAnnualRpt.pdf |title=07 sip Annual Report |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213194530/http://www.eot.state.ma.us/downloads/sip/07sipAnnualRpt.pdf |archive-date=February 13, 2012 }}</ref>
* Restoration of three Old Colony commuter rail lines ([[Middleborough/Lakeville Line]], [[Plymouth/Kingston Line]], and [[Greenbush Line]])
* Expansion of [[Framingham/Worcester Line|Framingham Line]] to serve Worcester full-time
* Restoration of the [[Newburyport/Rockport Line]]
* Six-car trains on the [[MBTA Blue Line]], requiring platform lengthening, station modernization, and all new train cars
* [[MBTA Silver Line]], a bus rapid transit route to the South Boston waterfront and East Boston, including the airport
* 1,000 new commuter parking spaces<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2012/06/23/wonderland-garage-open-july-garages-slated-for-beverly-salem/XtoNhdmcdTVHMCSjWRbBxJ/story.html |title= Wonderland garage to open July 1; T garages slated for Beverly, Salem – The Boston Globe |work= BostonGlobe.com |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160222125958/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2012/06/23/wonderland-garage-open-july-garages-slated-for-beverly-salem/XtoNhdmcdTVHMCSjWRbBxJ/story.html |archive-date= February 22, 2016 }}</ref>
* [[Fairmount Line]] improvements
* [[Green Line Extension]]

However, some projects were removed:
* Design of the [[Red-Blue Connector]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federal Register :: Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Massachusetts; Transit System Improvements |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/12/08/2015-30819/approval-and-promulgation-of-air-quality-implementation-plans-massachusetts-transit-system |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=federalregister.gov |date=December 8, 2015 |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency}}</ref>
* Restoration of [[Green Line E branch]] service to {{bts|Arborway}}

=== Surface treatments ===
Some surface treatments that were part of the original project plan were dropped due to the massive cost overruns on the highway portion of the project.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22394932 |title=$14.8 billion later, Big Dig finally complete |work=NBC News| date=December 25, 2007 |access-date=April 19, 2023}}</ref>

$99.1 million was allocated for [[Environmental mitigation|mitigating improvements]]<ref name="DCR2017">[https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/02/zp/New%2520Charles%2520River%2520Basin%2520Master%2520Plan%2520update%2520%25202017_01_17.pdf New Charles River Basin Citizens Advisory Committee, January 17, 2017] (presentation)</ref> to the [[Charles River Basin]], including the construction of [[North Point Park (Massachusetts)|North Point Park]] in Cambridge and [[Paul Revere Park]] in Charlestown.<ref name="DCR2017" /> The North Bank Bridge, providing pedestrian and bicycle connectivity between the parks, was not funded until the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]. Nashua Street Park on the Boston side was completed in 2003, by McCourt Construction with $7.9 million in funding from MassDOT.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mccourtconstruction.com/project-title-5/ |title=Nashua Street Park |publisher=McCourt Construction |year=2005}}</ref>

As of 2017, $30.5 million had been transferred to the [[Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation]] to complete five projects. Another incomplete but required project is the South Bank Bridge over the MBTA Commuter Rail tracks at North Station (connecting Nashua Street Park to the proposed South Bank Park, which is currently a parking lot under the Zakim Bridge at the Charles River locks).<ref>[https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/imce-uploads/2018-02/2018-02-05_noi_compiled.pdf Notice of Intent – SOUTH BANK BRIDGE PROJECT – Contract No. P13-2843-C1A] (submitted by DCR to Boston Conservation Commission, with maps)</ref>

Improvements in the lower Charles River Basin include the new walkway at [[Lovejoy Wharf]] (constructed by the developer of 160 North Washington Street, the new headquarters of [[Converse (shoe company)|Converse]]), the Lynch Family Skate Park (constructed in 2015 by the Charles River Conservancy), rehabilitation of historic operations buildings for the [[Charles River Dam]] and lock, a maintenance facility, and a planned pedestrian walkway across the Charles River next to the [[MBTA Commuter Rail]] drawbridge at North Station (connecting Nashua Street Park and North Point Park).<ref name="DCR2017" /> MassDOT is funding the South Bank Park,<ref name="DCR2017" /> and replacement of the North Washington Street Bridge (construction Aug 2018–23).<ref>[https://www.mass.gov/north-washington-street-bridge-replacement North Washington Street Bridge Replacement]</ref>

[[EF Education]] is funding public greenspace improvements as part of its three-phase expansion at North Point.<ref>[https://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/Files/CDD/ZoningDevel/SpecialPermits/sp328/SP328_app_Vol3_A.pdf EF Education III]</ref> Remaining funding may be used to construct the North Point Inlet pedestrian bridge, and a pedestrian walkway over [[Leverett Circle]]. Before being replaced with surface access during the reconstruction of the [[Science Park station (MBTA)|Science Park]] MBTA Green Line station, Leverett Circle had pedestrian bridges with stairs that provided elevated access between the station, the Charles River Parks, and the sidewalk to the [[Boston Museum of Science]]. The replacement ramps would comply with [[Americans with Disabilities Act]] requirements and allow easy travel by wheelchair or bicycle over the busy intersection.<ref name="DCR2017" />

=== Public art ===
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2019}}
While not a legally mandated requirement, [[public art]] was part of the urban design planning process, and later design development work, through the Artery Arts Program. The intent of the program was to integrate public art into highway infrastructure (retaining walls, fences, and lighting) and the essential elements of the pedestrian environment (walkways, park landscape elements, and bridges). As overall project costs increased, the Artery Arts Program was seen as a potential liability, even though there was support and interest from the public and professional arts organizations in the area.

At the beginning of the highway design process, a temporary arts program was initiated, and over 50 proposals were selected. Development began on only a few projects before funding for the program was cut. Permanent public art that was funded includes: super graphic text and facades of former [[West End, Boston|West End]] houses cast into the concrete elevated highway abutment support walls near [[North Station]] by artist [[Sheila Levrant de Bretteville]]; Harbor Fog, a sensor-activated mist, light and sound sculptural environment by artist [[Ross Miller (artist)|Ross Miller]] in parcel 17; a historical sculpture celebrating the 18th and 19th century shipbuilding industry and a bust of shipbuilder [[Donald McKay]] in [[East Boston]]; blue interior lighting of the Zakim Bridge; and the [[Millers River (Middlesex)|Miller's River]] Littoral Way walkway and lighting under the loop ramps north of the [[Charles River]].

Extensive landscape planting, as well as a maintenance program to support the plantings, was requested by many community members during public meetings. <!-- need more details on landscape program here -->